Scott 4

by Scott Walker

Overview

Walker dropped out of the British Top Ten with his fourth album, but the result was probably his finest '60s LP. While the tension between the bloated production and his introspective, ambitious lyrics remains, much of the over-the-top bombast of the orchestral arrangements has been reined in, leaving a relatively stripped-down approach that complements his songs rather than smothering them. This is the first Walker album to feature entirely original material, and his songwriting is more lucid and cutting. Several of the tracks stand among his finest. "The Seventh Seal," based upon the classic film by Ingmar Bergman, features remarkably ambitious (and relatively successful) lyrics set against a haunting Ennio Morricone-style arrangement. "The Old Man's Back Again" also echoes Morricone, and tackles no less ambitious a lyrical palette; "dedicated to the neo-Stalinist regime," the "old man" of this song was supposedly Josef Stalin. "Hero of the War" is also one of Walker's better vignettes, serenading his war hero with a cryptic mix of tribute and irony. Other songs show engaging folk, country, and soul influences that were largely buried on his previous solo albums. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	06/03/2014
Label:	Universal
UPC:	0602537288526
Rank:	41342

Tracks

1. The Seventh Seal
2. On Your Own Again
3. The World's Strongest Man
4. Angels of Ashes
5. Boy Child
6. Hero of the War
7. The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime)
8. Duchess
9. Get Behind Me
10. Rhymes of Goodbye

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Scott Walker   Primary Artist,Vocals
Peter Knight   Conductor,Accompaniment
Wally Stott   Conductor
Keith Roberts   Conductor,Accompaniment
Wally Knight   Conductor

Technical Credits

Simon Heyworth   Remastering
Keith Grant   Engineer
Scott Walker   Composer
Adrian Kerridge   Engineer
John Franz   Producer
Cally   Design,Producer
John Constable   Cover Design